Karma

I believe in karma. What comes around goes around. Or is it what goes around comes around?

In my last Bloop I mentioned that my race this weekend I wanted go break two hours. I also had a running buddy who had mentioned that she might just "follow" me and that really annoyed me. Frankly, she's a stronger runner, but tends to go out too fast and die at the end. I didn't want her following my plan and then smoking me at the end. My plan was to negative split that baby. Oh yeah!!!

DH is injured, so he said he'd try to keep up with me and run the race with me at my pace. Great! I did give him the caveat of no "helpful tips" or anything else that I might read as criticism. I know he means well, but I never take it the way it's meant and it only serves to put me in a bad mood. But I was in a great mood! The weather was perfect! We arrived early! I had a plan of action! I'd decided to write the paces needed for the miles on my arm. I blocked up the paces so I wouldn't be switching every mile. But when I went to write it on my arm, my brain seized up. "Am I supposed to change at the beginning or the end of the mile? Is the mile marker at the end or the beginning of the mile?" (this is a problem that plagues me at every. single. race. Anything numbers related becomes complex Calculus when I'm running. But I wasn't even running yet!!!

Math is hard.

Don't worry--I figured a way around it. I decided to use decimels! You know. 7.0 - 9.9 miles. Schwew.

My running group was planning on meeting up before the race, but me, in my selfishness decided to not meet up with them. That way the RB couldn't "follow" me! Brilliant! Until I saw them as we were walking into the corrals... But then we were in different corrals! Hooray! So, DH and I started running. Goal pace for my first mile was 9:30. It ticked off at 9:25. A little fast, but acceptable. Time banked! Second one was supposed to be a little faster. Ended up another 5 seconds fast. Acceptable. More time banked! The next mile was faster. Then the next mile was even faster! I was like a runaway train!!! Oh no!!! Everyone out of my way!!! I'm running an 8:44 mile and nothing can stop me!!!!! Then we saw the 2 hour pace group, so I was all "oh, yeah baby!!" I'd decided that I'd banked plenty of time and I was just gonna chill with them until close to the end. Good times!!!

They had a water stop at 4.5 and one at 6.0. Decisions. Which should I take my gel at? Smart decision was 4.5, but I said "meh, I can handle an extra mile". So, I took my gel at mile 6. I'm pretty sure it never kicked in. Around mile 6.5 I started faltering. The pace group is powering on ahead and this runaway train is slowing down around a bend.

Then it happened. Full bonk mode. But it gets worse!!!!! Remember that RB that I didn't want to run with??? She PASSED ME!!! Oh, the humility!!! All I could think of was "well, there's my karma." She ended up running the race I had planned on running while I ended up running her race. Bum-mer. Then one of my co-workers passed me. Then another RB passed me. Around mile 10 I saw my aunt and uncle. Apparently DH was hoping that they'd shove some spirit up my butt so that I could get a second wind. It did not happen.

Miles 10-13 I was purely concentrating on not walking. Just don't walk. I can't walk. I CAN'T WALK. Don't worry. I didn't walk.

At the end of this race we run into the local baseball team's field and run around it in the red dirt. I can usually get a really good sprint on during this part. Not this race. I maybe passed one or two people, but there was no coal left in this runaway train that was trying to go uphill.

I didn't get my sub-2. That RB? She got a 1:59:55. Karma. I can't begrudge her for running a smart race and getting the goal I wanted. I didn't run the race I planned.

If there's any advice I would give to newbies (besides not going out too fast) is "Plan your run and run your plan." I didn't do either.

Just for giggles, here's my planned and actual splits.

Good job following that plan, Hoosier Jill!!! You ROCK!

Anyways, I missed my goal by 5 minutes. I'm not so much upset about missing the goal as I am about not running my race the way I planned. I hope to apply what I've learned in Chicago in 13 days. And if that RB wants to run with me, I guess I'll let her. So I don't get karma-ed again.

Here's a pic of the group afterwards. Yes, I have shorts on. I'll let you guys which on this RB is. She's tall and pretty, but that describes several people in this group.

Have a great week, Loopsters! And for anyone new here, learn from my mistakes!!!! I know I did!

Sorry you didn't have the race you wanted - you'll get that sub 2. It is so easy to start out too fast and then bonk later in the race - I do it quite often. I wondered why you didn't show up at the pre-race picture?? I just can't figure out who is your nemesis of the group??? Do tell.

I can't tell you! And I wouldn't say she's my nemesis--just someone I wish I could beat. Maybe that makes her my nemesis!

Sorry you didn't have the race you wanted - you'll get that sub 2. It is so easy to start out too fast and then bonk later in the race - I do it quite often. I wondered why you didn't show up at the pre-race picture?? I just can't figure out who is your nemesis of the group??? Do tell.

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